Chapter 288: Civil Engineering Holy Body, Rankings Continuously Rise

Chapter 288: The Earthwork Saint Physique, Rising Ranks

Watching the fleeting glimpse of the Dao Seed on Zhang Pianpian, Zhang Yu wondered inwardly, "Could it be that one must gradually understand the other person, witness more of their techniques, to slowly perceive their Dao Seed?"

Recalling his interactions with Yu Xinghan and Le Mulan, Zhang Yu thought, "Indeed, Yu Xinghan and I know each other inside out, and I've spent a long time with Le Mulan, engaging in many deep exchanges."

"So it seems that to understand the Dao Seed on my sister, I need to get to know her better as well."

However, considering that he and his sister now shared a dorm room, there would be plenty of opportunities for interaction ahead. Understanding the Dao Seed gradually wouldn't be difficult, just like catching that brief glimpse of the Taiqing Talisman earlier.

After his sister left, Zhang Yu opened the platform introduced by his mana class teacher, Li Mingbo—Mana Treasure.

"Selling mana requires a minimum of 1,000 units per transaction."

"For selling mana below 1,000 units, you need to sign a weekly or monthly supply contract, providing a stable amount of mana daily."

Zhang Yu looked at the mana with a purity of 113%, priced at 100 units per day.

Staring at the dizzying zeros after the decimal point, he couldn't help but curse, "This mana is sold way too cheaply."

Fuji chuckled, "Hehe, of course. The spiritual energy here is so abundant, and dorm rooms are much cheaper than the spiritual veins on the first floor, meaning many people can sell their low-quality mana."

"With so many sellers, how could the price stay high?"

"The more the students of Ten Thousand Laws University cultivate, the more mana they supply. The wealthy can use cheaper mana, while the students must continue cultivating, constantly improving their mana quantity and quality to fetch a better price."

Fuji sighed, "The students here are like mana engines, constantly consuming spiritual energy and spitting out mana, and they even pay for the privilege."

Zhang Yu thought, "Low-quality mana in small quantities simply can't fetch a good price."

"And after improving my mana, if I can't sell it in large quantities, it's better to focus on physical cultivation first, preparing to earn money at the construction site."

Zhang Yu understood that university lasted only ten years, and every step of the plan was crucial, affecting his grades and ranking. He couldn't afford to be careless.

Now, with Zhang Pianpian's reminder, after some contemplation, he decided to change his cultivation plan.

"Anyway, I now have the University Saint Physique, allowing me to cultivate any technique exceptionally fast. Whether I focus on Dao Heart, mana, physical cultivation, or other directions, it's all feasible."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu decided to temporarily abandon the set he originally wanted to complete—Qi Vein Long Flow.

"Qi Vein Long Flow will have to wait for now."

"First, cultivate the body, then earn big money at the construction site. With money, I can further improve my cultivation efficiency."

"At the same time, I should try to hide my strength and avoid drawing too much attention..."

However, his previous cultivation wasn't in vain. After all, the Primordial Chaos Fetal Breathing Scripture allowed him to constantly absorb spiritual energy and refine mana. Even if he focused on physical cultivation, this breathing technique was essential.

At this moment, Zhang Yu opened the Great Library in his Eye Socket, scanning through the volumes of expert-level physical cultivation techniques.

"The only Foundation Establishment physical cultivation technique I currently possess is the Spring and Autumn Endless Zen."

"Level 10 Spring and Autumn Endless Zen is part of the Martial Dao Saint Embryo."

"And Level 20 Spring and Autumn Endless Zen is part of the Martial Dao Saint Physique."

Zhang Yu speculated that the Martial Dao Saint Physique was likely the Foundation Establishment version of the Martial Dao Saint Embryo.

"Based on the effects of the Martial Dao Saint Embryo, it mainly focuses on resilience, self-healing, and enhancing martial prowess."

"But right now, I'm in a phase where I need to develop. Pursuing high attack, high defense, and thick health... isn't very meaningful."

After all, in Zhang Yu's view, what use was being strong in early Foundation Establishment? Knowing how to earn money was more important.

Zhang Yu's gaze swept over the descriptions of various expert-level techniques in the Great Library. By reading these summaries, he glimpsed one chain technique diagram set after another.

"Volcanic Molten Bones, Kunpeng Infant Embryo, Burning Blood and Scorching Body..."

Zhang Yu curled his lip. Although he could see the names of various sets through the expert-level techniques, without actually mastering them, even he wouldn't know their specific effects.

"Can only guess from the names."

After a frenzy of browsing and picking, Zhang Yu finally selected a set—the Earthwork Saint Physique.

Although the other sets also seemed impressive, for Zhang Yu, it came back to that same saying...

"What's the use of being strong? We university students compete based on who has more money."

Listing the prices of the physical cultivation techniques under the Earthwork Saint Physique from low to high, Zhang Yu first chose the cheapest Foundation Establishment expert-level technique, called the Soil Devouring Divine Art.

This Soil Devouring Divine Art involved condensing a Gluttony mana, then decomposing ingested materials to temper the body and increase physical strength.

As the technique improved, the materials consumed ranged from the lowest-grade soil to cement, concrete, and even steel bars and alloys... The stronger the decomposed material, the more effective the body tempering.

Of course, this Foundation Establishment technique's method of strengthening the body by swallowing materials differed from actual eating. For instance, relying solely on consuming steel bars and cement could strengthen the body but wouldn't sustain life—one still needed to eat proper meals.

However, as soon as Zhang Yu finished browsing the technique description, he saw a line of crimson warning below.

"This technique is a legitimate physical cultivation method. Any theft from construction sites is discouraged. Practitioners are advised to purchase cultivation ingredients through proper channels."

Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback. Looking further down, he saw a series of news reports about thefts from construction sites—stealing and eating cables, steel bars, concrete, and even demon descendants...

"Is this warning practitioners of this technique not to steal things from construction sites to eat?"

After spending 0.3 spirit coins, Zhang Yu obtained the electronic copyright for this technique.

After a quick read, he remembered Zhang Pianpian's reminder. This time, instead of cultivating at the dorm entrance, he headed to the area below the 100th floor of Ten Thousand Laws University City.

...

Crossing the Magnetic Passage, Zhang Yu's first sensation upon reaching the 99th floor was... silence.

The streets were empty, with only dull gray concrete ground.

There were no advertisements, projections, or signs in the air...

Whether observed with the naked eye or through the Eye Socket, the entire 99th floor was eerily quiet, as if no one inhabited this level at all.

Zhang Yu's gaze swept over the houses on both sides of the street, noticing that most windows were dark.

He thought to himself, "Is it because there are particularly few people on this floor?"

Although it felt strange, Zhang Yu had no interest in investigating the reason at the moment. Activating the detection ritual power within him, he sensed that the surveillance cameras on this floor were indeed much fewer. Descending to the 95th floor, Zhang Yu found a corner without surveillance cameras.

Throughout the journey from the 99th to the 95th floor, it was all silent. Zhang Yu didn't encounter a single person.

"Are ordinary people concentrated on the lower floors? Are these few floors sparsely populated?"

Shaking his head and suppressing his doubts, Zhang Yu refocused his attention on cultivation.

He swallowed a piece of pre-prepared cement, then condensed Gluttony mana, beginning his cultivation of the Soil Devouring Divine Art.

During the cultivation of this technique, Zhang Yu felt an unparalleled, astonishing power erupt from his stomach and intestines. In an instant, aided by the decomposition of Gluttony mana, the cement was ground into powder.

Startled by this sensation, Zhang Yu thought, "The University Saint Physique... has granted me peak Foundation Establishment digestive capabilities."

"In this state, the power my stomach and intestines can unleash is probably far stronger than what my hands can produce."

Thinking this, Zhang Yu suddenly realized that the digestive power granted by the University Saint Physique paired quite well with this Soil Devouring Divine Art.

The next moment, he was already fully immersed in cultivation again.

Soil Devouring Divine Art—Level 1.

Fuji observed the surroundings, thinking, "This place has no people and blind spots without surveillance—quite suitable for setting up rituals."

"Since advancing to a Level 2 Evil God and entering Ten Thousand Laws University City, I haven't had the chance to establish new rituals. This might be an opportunity..."

After some thought, Fuji decided to observe a while longer. Once confirming the place was safe enough, she would suggest Zhang Yu prepare for a ritual.

In the days that followed, aside from attending classes, Zhang Yu would go below the 100th floor every day to cultivate the Earth Devouring Divine Art.

The Sacrificial Ox Technique and the Primordial Breath Scripture were maintained around the clock, and with the assistance of the University’s Sacred Body, his Dao heart and magical power continued to grow.

As for his performance in class and the results of basic data tests, he used an anti-detection ritual to conceal them slightly, making his progress appear less astonishing.

…

Outside the Magical Skeleton Rental Center.

Li Xiao walked out cheerfully, chatting and laughing with Gongshu Jin, Ying Xin, and others.

“I’ll head off first, then.”

“Sure, see you tomorrow.”

“No problem, do you think I’d lack a few spirit coins?”

After a round of banter with his classmates, Li Xiao walked toward the dormitory in high spirits. At the same time, his magical skeleton displayed the current class ranking.

Seeing that he was still holding the 10th position with 295 points, the smile on his lips widened.

Glancing further down, he suddenly felt a flicker of surprise. “Zhang Yu moved from 19th to 18th? 272 points… Has he started making progress?”

But Li Xiao simply shook his head. Half of the three-month foundational course had already passed, and it was impossible for the other to catch up with him.

A few days later, as soon as midnight arrived, Li Xiao opened the class ranking again. He looked at himself, still in 10th place with 296 points, then at Zhang Yu, who had risen to 16th with 275 points, and his brow furrowed slightly.

“He’s gaining points this fast?” Li Xiao thought to himself. “It seems he’s stopped messing around with those basic cultivation techniques like before.”

If Zhang Yu had suddenly surpassed Li Xiao in one go, skyrocketing in rank, Li Xiao might have given up on competing altogether.

But now, watching Zhang Yu climb up one spot at a time over these past few days, Li Xiao only wanted to put in more effort and spend more spirit coins to crush Zhang Yu completely.

Just then, a message from Ying Xin popped up in his magical skeleton: “Want to go to the Soul Cloud Sea together today?”

Li Xiao replied immediately, “Yes! Let’s train for ten hours today.”

From then on, Li Xiao cultivated with even greater diligence and determination. The balance in his account dwindled, the bills from lending platforms piled up, and his cultivation steadily improved day by day.

The first thing he did every morning at dawn was check his and Zhang Yu’s rankings.

14th place, Zhang Yu, 279 points.

Li Xiao thought, “How much money has this guy spent?”

12th place, Zhang Yu, 284 points.

“He’s probably borrowed no less than I have.”

11th place, Zhang Yu, 296 points.

10th place, Li Xiao, 301 points.

“There’s only one month left before the official start of the semester… I absolutely cannot lose here…”

Watching Zhang Yu gradually close the gap in overall points over these days, Li Xiao felt increasingly anxious.

“Only if I get into the construction site… Only then can I repay my loans!”

“The struggle in the path of immortality is all about seizing the initiative! If you fall behind even one step, you’ll lag further and further.”

“If I can’t enter the construction site ahead of others, the pressure from loans alone will severely slow down my cultivation efficiency.”

“Zhang Yu… Do you want to compete in immortal potential?”

“Then bring it on!”

“Teacher Tu will definitely take me to the construction site first!”

With this thought, a ruthless glint flashed across Li Xiao’s face as he opened the collateral function of the lending platform.

Several days later, Li Xiao checked the updated rankings at dawn once again.

His eyes fixed intently on the list.

9th place, Li Xiao, 308 points.

8th place, Zhang Yu, 309 points.

(End of Chapter)